The Highwayman's Rig: Totaled

"I'm devastated by this," writes Thomas Weller, also know as "The Highwayman," in a August 23 email.

Weller will likely remain devastated until he finds a witness to an accident he was involved in, one that will keep him from helping stranded motorists as he has done for more than 40 years.

On August 10, Weller went looking for stranded motorists in his 1955 Ford Wagon. As he merged onto SR 163 from Interstate-5, Weller and his border collie copilot, Shela, were involved in an accident. Weller says Beulah, the name of his wagon which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Ghostbusters' "Ecto-1," is likely totaled.

During the past two years, The Highwayman has encountered some rough terrain. Last year, an ophthalmologist detected a cataract in one of Weller's eyes. Around the same time, he found that Beulah's engine was in need of an overhaul.

Through donations, Weller's vision was repaired, and with help from the San Diego Automotive Museum, his rig was repaired as well. And now Weller is hoping for another good deed, an eyewitness willing to set the record straight about the accident.

"I really need a witness to the accident that [can] give an account of what happened. [If not], I'm going to be found at fault for hittin' a vehicle from the rear."

Comments

I find it humorous that this story made it to print. However, I have to simply think that everyone has the right to their version of what happened. I look forward to seeing if there is a witness out there that will take his side on this issue.

Here's your witness, you were driving too fast, not paying attention to the road, you rear ended a white Honda, then a white Infiniti, then a tan Ford... If you had been paying attention and not trying to read your text messages you could have stopped in time and not sent two of drivers to the hospital... As you stated at the scene, 'I know traffic gets backed up here this time of day (2:42pm), it's totally my fault' So now why are you yet again seeking public support? You didn't even have enough insurance to cover the damages you caused? Maybe it's time you got off the roads, you certainly didn't help anyone that day!

Highwayman you are correct there was some inaccurate information and I apologize, It was a White Acura you rear ended first, then you rear ended a White Infiniti which was pushed into a Light Brown Mazda. It happened at approx 2:02pm. There is no proof you were in fact distracted by your phone, but I stand by everything else I said. You were found at fault, cited in the police report for excessive speed for the road conditions, gotta love the Freedom of Information Act. Had Dorian reviewed the police report first she might not have bothered publishing this piece to begin with. Instead of seeking public sympathy and support why don't you man up and admit you made a mistake and then take stock of what caused you rear end those cars, there wasn't 'fluid' on the road and nobody else caused it - you did!!! As long as you deny culpability it’s a good thing you and ‘Beulah’ are off the road as you are a danger to the motoring public!!!

"MarkS" givin the content of your first post, I'd say your credibility level is O and no, I don't accept your "apology" for your inflamatory false statements and pretending to be a "witness" -- goes to character -- as I said before YOU are NOT a witness! accident reports are public record -- but you DO have to buy them from the issuing agency -- question is -- why would you have one?

I am seeking a independant "WITNESS" -- one totally unconnected to ANY of the parties involved in this incident -- NOT a "pretend" witness and certainly not an armchair quarterback --

Mr. Highwayman,
YOUR credibility is shot!!! Just because someone got simply facts mixed doesn't take away from YOU being at fault. YOU are seeking help for something that was YOUR fault. YOU should just leave well enough alone.

Mr. Highwayman, I would also like to note that in your blog you also fail to mention that two people were hurt and taken by ambulance to local hospitals because of your negligance as stated in the police report. Once again in that forum the whole truth is not coming out either. I would suggest that you consider telling the whole truth before you continue to ask for handouts as some of your loyal supporters might not be too happy with your story embellishments.

Valerie Young: Yeah this needs to be taken down without all the facts. About fifteen years ago he pulled one of my friends over like he was a cop to warn him about speeding. Enough with this public support. Your fault fix it yourself like everyone else has to.

I have been asked many times on why I:
ask someone to please take that cigarette butt with them
tell co-motorists that they are following too close, or just ran a completely red light, or heck if their tire is flat or something is falling off their vehicle
inform individuals that throwing lit cigarettes out the window does start fires
scold children and teenagers from verbally and/or physically abusing one another or elders

The questions are typically followed by a statement of "that person could have a gun", or "what if you ran a red light and somebody yelled at you?" The answer to those have always been that I would hope they don't have a gun or at least are not ridiculous enough to try and use it, but I 100% would welcome and expect anybody to yell at me if I ran a red light. I firmly believe that we need to both keep our citizens in check and also help every person we possibly can within our power. In doing this, we all grow closer as a community.

I would hope that Dorian posted the article as witness to maybe one or a few of the literally thousands apon thousands of Thomas Weller's gifted good deeds. Of course we are going to hear from the occasional person that believes they should have not been told by anyone that they need to stop at red lights, or not drive on someones bumper, or drive recklessly, or hit their girlfriend, and the many other things that people think go unseen or cared about. Just like most news, we seem to only hear about the bad and not enough about the good.

The good, is that there are men like my dad, Thomas Weller, that have been instilling good-will and helping others for over 40 years. That even though we could pay millions to put thousands more law enforcement officials out there, it really comes down to communities holding themselves accountable and helping each other. Thomas Weller knows, believes, preaches, and practices that every day possible and with a little help from the community, he has been able to keep doing it.

The bad is that accidents do occur and often involve individuals that are the most prepared.

Unfortunately the point and request in the article, is that a witness was being sought after, and I doubt at this time that any are going to be able to step forward.

MY actual "witness" [ BEING there! ] statement
by the SanDiegoHighwayman --
This collision, that killed my Beulah, occurred the afternoon of 08/10/11

I entered the transition from I-5 NB to SR 163 NB prepared, as always, for the likelihood of encountering slowing or stopped traffic just out of sight over the hump around the curve of the transition, having been thru this dangerous transition thousands of times over 40+ years - often several times a day -- have made numerous rescues at this location -- many of them documented -- as I entered the transition, I NOTED stopped and slowing traffic near the bottom of the hill -- adjusted my speed accordingly and knew I had PLENTY of distance-time to come to a halt at a safe distance behind it -- I always leave multiple car lengths of distance between the front of my vehicle and the back of any vehicle in front of me -- I call it "escape" distance and it has saved me more times then I can count when someone comes up too fast behind me --

I glanced to the left, at a disabled small vehicle sitting on the gore point of the transition from the 5 [ intending to circle back around from the Robinson OC, back SB 163 to I-5 SB Imperial UC then coming back NB I-5 prepared to safely land behind the disabled to assist them WO causin a ripple in the flow of traffic -- done this countless times thru the years - it's safer then trying to make a sudden maneuver in traffic ]

At THAT exact instant, I heard a high pitched squeal and there was a tremendous WHUMP! I attempted to brake hard, to no effect, shortly after, there was another, second WHUMP, and I had then hit the last car I'd seen some distance down the hill --

My "WITNESS" statement IS -- that the first car struck passed me on my right, then unexpectedly changed lanes suddenly into my lane directly in front of me and braked hard at the exact moment I glanced to my left, THIS was the first WHUMP -- this impact sheared my brake line to my master cylinder [ discovered upon investigation after ]
disabling my brakes, which is why I couldn't avoid hitting the second car -- I was NOT in a hurry, I was NOT speeding, I was moving "with the flow of traffic" I was NOT "texting on my cellphone" nor doing ANYTHING with my cellphone -- I WAS payin close attention as this is one of THE most dangerous traffic locations in all of San Diego.

First off, NOTHING was asked for here except that an uninvolved witness come forward to give testimony.

MarkS - in yer first post, you are a LIER!

first in using a false name in yer postin

second, in falsely claiming to be a "witness" you were NOT there, but I DO know who you are --
[ having spoken with you on the phone the evening of 08/10/11 ]

third, in falsely stating I was involved w my phone or "texting" [ easily disproveable as I have NEVER texted in my LIFE, and I don't USE my phone while driving except in 911 emergencies. ]

YOU sure backed up in a hurry on that one didn't ya!?

forth, in falsely claiming I stated "it was my fault". [ never said that! ]

I find yer comment bout my insurance tellin also -- I HAVE what the law requires -- what were you expecting? DEEP pockets from a "company car"? right interestin --

all I can say bout you, fella, is "the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree"

As the dust settled, I went to the driver of the car directly in front of mine, who was getting out of her vehicle, and asked if she was OK? driver took off her jacket, laid it on the roof of her vehicle -- she stated she "didn't know" [ in my 40+ years of assistin accident victims, a reasonable answer ]

I then went to the driver of the first car [ the one that caused the wreck ] -- this vehicle had stopped on the RS a considerable distance further down the road ] and asked same question. THAT driver instantly exclaimed "OH, my NECK!" --

I thereupon returned to my now destroyed vehicle and retrieved my first response bag to obtain instant cold packs from it that I activated one and placed it on the back of that driver's neck w instructions as to how to activate the second one if needed while waiting .

I then went back to the driver of the second car to check, and that driver was standing talking with a uniformed officer of some jurisdiction, not CHP, so I performed traffic control [ slowing oncoming vehicles so there wouldn't be further crashes ] untill finally the CHP and fire-rescue arrived and took over --

Both other drivers were evaluated, transported, treated, and released -- I would have been too if I had agreed to --

I'll leave this to a reasonable person's conclusions ----------- I've never caused an a TC
[ Traffic Collision ] IN MY LIFE and I sure as hell didn't cause THIS one!

MommasGirl - I'm going to assume you were the driver of the second car by yer comments here - and if that's so, I don't blame you for being upset -- BUT -- as you kin see by my statement above -- I was NOT the cause of this collision, but a victim of the first driver's SID [ Selfish Ignorant Driving ] maneuver -- as I told you on the phone, I sincerely regret that you were involved --

I'm sorry it "made yer day" to believe false "witness" from Mark S :(

If you, MommasGirl, are in fact, the driver of the first car SHAME on YOU -- for yer Selfish Ignorant Driving actions that day and statements made here --

HuskerGirl -- whoever you are -- "embellishments?" -- an uninvolved ACTUAL witness is all that was asked for here --
I think FALSE witness and "embellishments" would more accurately apply to MarkS's so called "witness" statement

"Valerie Young" whoever you are? -- if your "friend" was driving a white work truck, it had nuthing to do w speeding and everything to do with reckless driving as he caused a non contact hit and run and did not stop to exchange info -- I reported the incident and description of the truck, driver and passenger, w licence # to 911 at the time, and if nothing came of it, he's lucky --

But, being a "Devil's Advocate" I can see why you might believe me to be at fault -- when you looked in your rearview mirror, after hearing the crash behind you, you would have likely only seen me coming towards you from the rear -- as the driver, Debra, who CAUSED the crash veered back TO THE RIGHT and PASSED you on the right to stop a considerable distance further down the road ON the RIGHT side! -- You likely never even SAW her car --

My brakes were disabled by that crash - [ I didn't know that at the time ] and THAT'S WHY I was inspecting the road surface after -- to see if there was something slick on it
[ like spilled antifreeze from a possible eariler crash -- or some such ] I was puzzelled by my inability to avoid hitting your car, as I was NOT "speeding" at all but traveling "with the flow of traffic -- as I told you on the phone after, when I called to see if you were all right, i'm sorry you were involved - damaged because of the first drivers "SID" Selfish Ignorant Driving behaviour :( but I was NOT the cause* of this crash -- SHE was!

IF Beulah's dashcam had been ON, I would have had NO problem proving that --

BeCAUSE of that -- my Mercury's dash cam is ALWAYS ON when it's running and was able to catch this "SID"s simaler Selfish Ignorant behavior, that, luckily, did NOT result in a crash as I WAS able to avoid her by braking and going WITH her to the left to avoid being HIT from my rear by a vehicle that was following me TOO CLOSE! :p

AGIN - I'm sorry you felt it necessary to DO what you DID on the EVE of my birthday no less!! I didn't get much sleep that night -- wonderin?? and THEN, I woke up Christmas mornin and saw why channel 10 ran the story -- THANK YOU Channel 10!

I think you, Vicky, have held your mistaken angst for too long -- I forgive you.

Message : I saw the recent story in regards to Thomas Weller " The Highwayman" and trying to get his car fixed. I was involved in that accident and what he claiming that happened that day is not true and I have the police reports to back it up. I'm frustrated that a man who is out there to help others only had the minimum insurance coverage of $5,000 and caused $30,511.41 in damages to 4 cars. He was in the wrong that day and caused a major accident that sent me to the hospital and for him to continue with the story that someone cut him off to get money out of San Diegan's is wrong. At the time of the accident he claimed there was oil on the road, which also the police showed was not true in the report. He was at total fault. I would like to see a story done to show the viewers the other side of the story. :confused:
https://www.facebook.com/ABC10News/...67384.100450643330760/818533921522425/?type=1

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This woman WAS involved in the accident -- she was NOT the one that caused it, but, she mistakenly believed I did, apparently, :(

I was surprized, dismayed, hurt that this was aired Christmas eve -- unTILL -- I realized WHY channel 10 did it ;) FOR me :cool: I am SO honored to hear from SO MANY folks I've met beside the road in their times of trouble and SO many of my neighbors and passersby that I've had to "go wash my face" a number of times on readin these --

But, while I am -- STILL HERE - -I will continue, to the best of my ability, with what I HAVE -- to assist those I encounter in trouble along the highways and byways of my travels -- AND -- if I may -- I ENCOURAGE others to DO so as well -- to the best of their abilities --